Club Display Hanger

ABSTRACT

A display hanger releasably fastenable to a tubular handle of an article of merchandise includes a display member and a hollowed sleeve fastener. The display member has a top end and a bottom end, the top end associates with a hanging member being removably supported by a stationary support member. The hollowed sleeve fastener being releaseably fastenable to the tubular handle of the article of merchandise. The sleeve fastener includes a first end coupling to the bottom end of the display member, a second end having an opening removably receiving the tubular handle, and a radial wall defining an outer diameter of a hollowed region. The radial wall being releasably fastenable to the circumferential surface of the tubular handle when the tubular handle is inserted into the hollowed region through the opening of the sleeve fastener.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to display hangers used by merchandise retailers. More specifically, this disclosure relates to releasably fastening handles of golf clubs to display hangers.

BACKGROUND

Retailers generally display sporting equipment products, such as golf clubs, racquets, lacrosse sticks, hockey sticks and/or bats, on display racks on a sales area floor. The display racks rest on the floor taking up large amounts of space and often include dedicated slots configured to receive a handle or shaft of a product. Each display rack may display multiple products, inhibiting the ease by the retailer to individually label each product for promotion to potential consumers. To promote the products, retailers often have to affix promotional information, such as individual price tags and/or product descriptions, to surfaces of each product. It is often difficult, however, for consumers to locate the affixed promotional information due to awkward placement upon the surfaces of the products and congestion among the multiple products being displayed.

Displaying individual golf clubs by using a clamshell casing surrounding the head of the golf club hampers a potential consumer's ability to view the head of the golf club. Likewise, inserting features of a hanger through a deformable hole in a handle of a golf club to engage an interior surface of the golf club causes the deformable hole to stretch upon repeated inserting and removing the feature into and out of the deformable hole. As a result of the deformable hole stretching, durability is lost, and the golf club is caused to slip from being suspended by the display hanger.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the disclosure provides a display hanger releasably fastenable to a tubular handle of an article of merchandise. The display hanger includes a display member and a hollowed sleeve fastener. The display member has a top end and a bottom end, the top end associates with a hanging member being removably supported by a stationary support member. The hollowed sleeve fastener is releaseably fastenable to the tubular handle of the article of merchandise to support a weight of the article of merchandise. The sleeve fastener includes a first end coupling to the bottom end of the display member, a second end having an opening removably receiving the tubular handle, and a radial wall defining an outer diameter of a hollowed region formed between the first and second ends. The radial wall is releasably fastenable to the circumferential surface of at least a portion of the tubular handle when at least the portion of the tubular handle is inserted into the hollowed region through the opening of the sleeve fastener.

Implementations of the disclosure may include one or more of the following optional features. In some implementations, the display member is substantially planar. The display member may exhibit display indicia. In some examples, the hanging member includes a retaining cavity formed through the display member at a location offset below the top end, the retaining cavity having a suspension surface removably supported by the stationary support member when the stationary support member is received at the retaining cavity. The hanging member may further include an elongated L-shaped receiving channel formed through the display member and having an inlet opening at the top end removably receiving the stationary support member, the elongated L-shaped receiving channel extending from the inlet opening to the receiving cavity. In some examples, the hanging member extends from the top end of the top end of the display member and is substantially hooked-shaped.

In some implementations, the radial wall of the sleeve fastener fastens to the circumferential surface of at least the portion of the tubular handle by an interference fit when at least the portion of the tubular handle is inserted into the hollowed region. The opening at the second end of the sleeve fastener may include a diameter that is larger than a largest diameter of the circumferential surface of the tubular handle. In some examples, the radial wall further includes one or more integrally formed protrusions extending radially inward from the radial wall. The one or more protrusions may include at least one of the following: a threaded ridge formed in a helix on the radial wall; one or more annular ridges on the radial wall; at least two ridges circumferentially spaced on the radial wall; or at least two ridges axially spaced on the radial wall. In some examples, the radial wall of the sleeve fastener fastens to the circumferential surface of at least the portion of the tubular handle by an interference fit between the one or more protrusions and the circumferential surface when at least the portion of the tubular handle is inserted into the hollowed region. At least a portion of the one or more protrusions may compress from contact by the circumferential surface of at least the portion of the tubular handle when at least the portion of the tubular handle is inserted into the hollowed region. In some examples, the one or more protrusions define an inner diameter of the hollowed region of the sleeve fastener, the inner diameter of the hallowed region being smaller than a largest diameter of the circumferential surface of the tubular handle.

In some implementations, the sleeve fastener includes one or more tapered slots circumferentially spaced around the radial wall, the one or more tapered slots extending axially away from the second end toward the first end of the sleeve fastener. In some examples, the display member further includes a substantially planar tab extending from the bottom end attaching to the sleeve member at the first end. In some implementations, the one or more gusset members reinforce the coupling between the first end of the sleeve fastener and the bottom end of the display member. The article of merchandise may include at least one of a golf club, a racquet, a hockey stick, a lacrosse stick, or a bat.

Another aspect of the disclosure provides a method for releasably fastening a tubular handle of a golf club to a display hanger. The method includes positioning an axial center of a hollowed sleeve fastener of the display hanger to align with an axial center of a distal end of the tubular handle, the hollowed sleeve fastener comprising a radial wall defining an outer diameter of a hollowed region. The method also includes, when the axial center of the hollowed sleeve fastener is aligned with the axial center of the distal end of the tubular handle, receiving, within the hollowed region, at least a portion of the tubular handle, wherein the radial wall fastens to the circumferential outer surface of at least the portion of the tubular handle received within the hollowed region. The method also includes receiving, at a hanging member of the display hanger, a stationary support member. The stationary support member supports the display hanger and the weight of the golf club when the hanging member receives the stationary support member and when the radial wall fastens to the circumferential surface of at least the portion of the tubular handle.

This aspect may include one or more of the following optional features. In some examples, the hanger member is formed in a display member of the display hanger, the display member being substantially planar and exhibiting display indicia. In some examples the hollowed sleeve fastener attaches to the display member and the radial wall of the sleeve fastener fastens to the circumferential surface of at least the portion of the tubular handle by an interference fit between one or more protrusions and the circumferential surface when at least the portion of the tubular handle is received within the hollowed region. The one or more protrusions may extend radially inward from the radial wall and optionally include at least one of the following: a threaded ridge formed in a helix on the radial wall; one or more annular ridges on the radial wall; at least two ridges circumferentially spaced on the radial wall; or at least two ridges axially spaced on the radial wall. In some examples, the one or more protrusions define an inner diameter of the hollowed region of the hollowed sleeve fastener, the inner diameter of the hallowed region being smaller than a largest diameter of the circumferential surface of the tubular handle

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a prospective view of an example display hanger fastening to a tubular handle of a golf club.

FIG. 1B is a detailed view of a hollowed sleeve fastener of the display hanger of FIG. 1A releaseably fastening to the tubular handle.

FIG. 2A is a front view of an example display hanger.

FIG. 2B is a top view of an example display hanger.

FIG. 3A is a sectional view of the example display hanger along line 3A-3A of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3B is a sectional view of the example display hanger along line 3B-3B of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 4A is a front view of an example display hanger including a substantially hook-shaped hanging member.

FIG. 4B is a front view of an example display hanger including a retaining cavity in the form of an aperture through a display member of the display hanger.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an example method for releasably fastening a tubular handle of a golf club to an example display hanger.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, in some implementations, a display hanger 10 includes a display member 100 and a hollowed sleeved fastener 200. The display member 100 and the hollowed sleeve fastener 200 of the display hanger 10 may be formed from one or more plastic materials such as, but not limited to, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), low-density polyethylene (LDPE) or polypropylene (PP).

The display member 100 may include a top end 110 associated with a hanging member 112 being removably supported by a stationary support member 30. For example, the stationary support member 30 may include a rod or bar extending from a merchandize peg wall or may include a rod or bar of a display rack oriented in parallel with respect to a floor surface and at a height above the floor surface sufficient for hanging and suspending a golf club 22 via the hanging member 112 therefrom. The display member 100 may be substantially planar, and in the example shown, the display member 100 is substantially rectangular shaped. In some examples, however, the display member 100 may be trapezoidal shaped, circular shaped, oval shaped or any polygonal shape. In some implementations, the display member 100 exhibits display indicia 60. The display indicia 60 may include promotional information related to the product being displayed, such as, but not limited to, a product description, a price tag, or a universal product code. The display indicia 60 may be printed or formed upon surfaces of the display member 110 or affixed to the display member 100 using adhesives. In some examples, the display member 100 may affix security tags or beacon transmitters configured to wirelessly transmit the product information to mobile devices of shoppers proximate to the corresponding product.

In some implementations, the hollowed sleeve fastener 200 (e.g., sleeve fastener) releasably fastens to a tubular handle 20 of the golf club 22 to support the weight of the golf club 22 when the stationary support member 30 is received by the hanging member 112 and supporting the display hanger 10. While the examples provided herein refer to a tubular handle 20 of a golf club 22, implementations herein are directed toward the sleeve fastener 200 releasably fastening to a tubular handle 20 of any article of merchandise, such as, but not limited to, a racquet, a hockey stick, a lacrosse stick or a bat. The term “tubular handle” refers to a tube-shaped handle or polygonal-shaped handle having rounded corners. The tubular handle may encompass end caps of sticks or shafts. In the example shown, the sleeve fastener 200 releaseably fastens to an outer circumferential surface of at least a portion of the tubular handle 20. As shown in FIG. 1B, the sleeve fastener 200 includes a first end 202 coupling to a bottom end 120 of the display member 100. In some implementations, the display member 100 includes a substantially planar tab 150 extending from the bottom end 120 that attaches to the sleeve fastener 200 at the first end 202. One or more gusset members 152 may be provided to reinforce the coupling between the first end 202 of the sleeve fastener 200 and the bottom end 120 of the display member 100. The sleeve fastener 200 further includes a second end 204 having an opening 220 removably receiving the tubular handle 20.

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, front (FIG. 2A) and top (FIG. 2B) views of the display hanger 10 are shown. In the examples shown, the width of the display member 100 is sectioned in half with respect to a longitudinal axis 1 defining a center axis C of the sleeve fastener 200. The display member 100 may present the display indicia 60 within an interior border 160 offset inwardly from an outer perimeter of the display member 100.

In some implementations, the hanging member 112 includes a retaining cavity 114 formed through the display member 100 at a distance D₁ below the top end 110. The retaining cavity 114 removably receives the stationary support member 30, and includes an opening large enough for the stationary support member 30 to reside therein. The retaining cavity 114 is defined by a suspension surface 116 removably supported by the stationary support member 30 when the stationary support member 30 is received at the retaining cavity 114. The suspension surface 116 may be located a distance D₂ below the top end 110 of the display member 100. In some examples, the suspension surface 116 includes a radius, r, selected for receiving the outer circumference of the stationary support member 30. In the example shown, the retaining cavity 114 is centered about the longitudinal axis 1 enabling the display member 100 to be centered when the display hanger 10 is being supported by the stationary support member 30. As used herein, the display hanger 10 being supported by the stationary support member 30 refers to the display hanger 10 hanging from the stationary support member 30.

The hanging member 112, in some examples, includes an elongated L-shaped receiving channel 118 formed through the display member 100. The L-shaped receiving channel 118 removably receives the stationary support member 30 at an inlet opening formed in the top end 110 of the display member 100 and operatively guides the stationary support member 30 to the receiving cavity 114. In the example shown, the inlet opening of the receiving channel 118 is located at the top end 110 of the display member 100 and offset from the longitudinal axis 1; however, the inlet opening may be formed at one or both of the sides of the display member 100. The receiving channel 118 may slant from the inlet opening toward the longitudinal axis 1 at any angle, a, sufficient for guiding the stationary support member 30 to the receiving cavity 114. Referring to FIG. 4A, in some implementations, the hanging member 112 is substantially hooked-shaped, and extends from the top end 110 of the display member 100. For example, the hook-shaped hanging member 112 defines the retaining cavity 114 and the suspension surface 116 at a location above the top end 112 of the display member 100. In some implementations, as shown in FIG. 4B, the hanging member 112 only includes a retaining cavity 114 without the receiving channel 118 formed through the display member 100. For example, the retaining cavity 114 may include an aperture or other opening formed through the display member 100 sufficient to receive a leading edge of the stationary support member 30 through the retaining cavity 114.

In some implementations, the sleeve fastener 200 extends below the bottom end 120 of the display member by a distance D₃ and includes a length, corresponding to distance D₄, from the first end 202 to the second end 204. The sleeve fastener 200 may include one or more tapered slots 230 circumferentially spaced around the sleeve fastener 200. The slots 230 may extend axially away from the second end 204 toward the first end 202 of the sleeve fastener 200. FIG. 3A shows a sectional view along the line 3A-3A of FIG. 2A, wherein the sleeve fastener 200 includes a radial wall (e.g., interior surface) defining an outer diameter θ₁ of a hollowed region 222 between the first and second ends 202, 204, respectively. In some examples, the one or more tapered slots 230 permit the outer diameter θ₁ of the hollowed region 222 to expand when the tubular handle 20 is inserted therein. As shown in FIG. 3A, the sleeve fastener 200 may include one or more cross members 224 disposed at the first end 202 extending through the center axis C and oriented perpendicular with respect to the longitudinal axis 1. In some examples, one cross member 224 attaches to the tab 150 and another cross member 224 attaches to the one or more gussets 152.

Referring to FIG. 2B, in some implementations, the radial wall 210 releaseably fastens to the circumferential surface of at least a portion of the tubular handle 20 when at least the portion of the tubular handle 20 is inserted into the hollowed region 222 through the opening 220 of the sleeve fastener 200. For example, the radial wall 210 of the sleeve fastener 200 fastens to the circumferential surface of at least the portion of the tubular handle 20 by an interference fit. In some examples, the radial wall 210 includes one or more integrally formed protrusions 240 additionally providing the fastening to the circumferential surface of the tubular handle 20.

Referring to FIG. 3B, a sectional view along the line 3B-3B of FIG. 2A shows two protrusions 240 extending radially inward from the radial wall 210. The one or more protrusions 240 define an inner diameter θ₂ of the hollowed region 222 of the sleeve fastener 200. The inner diameter θ₂ of the hollowed region 222 may be smaller than a largest diameter of the circumferential surface of the tubular handle 20. In some examples, the opening 220 at the second end 204 of the sleeve fastener 200 includes a diameter that is larger than a largest diameter of the outer circumferential surface of the tubular handle 20. The one or more protrusions 240 may include at least one of a threaded ridge formed in a helix on the radial wall 210, one or more annular ridges on the radial wall 210, at least two ridges circumferentially spaced on the radial wall 210, or at least two ridges axially spaced on the radial wall 210. In the example shown in FIG. 3B, the protrusions include two annular ridges axially spaced from each other on the radial wall 210. In some examples, the radial wall 210 fastens to the tubular handle 20 by an interference fit between the one or more protrusions 240 and the circumferential surface of the tubular handle 20 when at least the portion of the tubular handle 20 is inserted into the hollowed region 222. In some implementations, at least a portion of the one or more protrusions 240 compress from contact by the circumferential surface of at least the portion of the tubular handle 20 when at least the portion of the tubular handle 20 is inserted into the hollowed region 222.

FIG. 5 is flowchart of an example method 500 for releasably fastening the tubular handle 20 of the golf club 22 to the display hanger 10 described above with reference to FIGS. 1-4B. The flowchart starts at operation 502 where the axial center of the hollowed sleeve fastener 200 is positioned to align with an axial center of a distal end of the tubular handle 20. The hollowed sleeve fastener 200 includes the radial wall 210 defining the outer diameter θ₁ of the hollowed region 222. In some examples, the radial wall 210 includes the one or more integrally formed protrusions 240 extending radially inward from the radial wall 210 and defining the inner diameter θ₂ of the hollowed region 222. At operation 504, when the axial center of the hollowed sleeve fastener 200 is aligned with the axial center of the distal end of the tubular handle 20, the hollowed region 222 receives at least a portion of the tubular handle 20, wherein the radial wall 210 fastens to the circumferential (outer) surface of at least the portion of the tubular handle 20 received within the hollowed region 222. In some examples, the radial wall 210 fastens to the circumferential surface by an interference fit between one or more protrusions 240 and the circumferential surface when at least the portion of the tubular handle 20 is received within the hollowed region 222. For example, the one or more protrusions 240 extend radially inward from the radial wall 210 to define the inner diameter θ₂ of the hollowed region 222 being smaller than the largest diameter of the circumferential surface of the tubular handle 20. In some implementations, the tubular handle 20 is removed from the hollowed region 220 by pulling the hollowed sleeve fastener 200 and the tubular handle 20 away from one another causing the interference fit to release. At operation 506, the hanging member 112 of the display member 100 receives the stationary support member 30. The stationary support member 30 may support the display hanger 10 and the weight of the golf club 22 when the hanging member 112 receives the stationary support member 30 and when the radial wall 210 fastens to the circumferential surface of at least the portion of the tubular handle 20.

A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A display hanger releasably fastenable to a tubular handle of an article of merchandise, the display hanger comprising: a display member having a top end and a bottom end, the top end associated with a hanging member being removably supported by a stationary support member; and a hollowed sleeve fastener releaseably fastenable to the tubular handle of the article of merchandise to support a weight of the article of merchandise, the sleeve fastener comprising a first end coupling to the bottom end of the display member, a second end having an opening removably receiving the tubular handle, and a radial wall defining an outer diameter of a hollowed region formed between the first and second ends, the radial wall releaseably fastenable to the circumferential surface of at least a portion of the tubular handle when at least the portion of the tubular handle is inserted into the hollowed region through the opening of the sleeve fastener.
 2. The display hanger of claim 1, wherein the display member is substantially planar.
 3. The display hanger of claim 1, wherein the display member exhibits display indicia.
 4. The display hanger of claim 1, wherein the hanging member comprises: a retaining cavity formed through the display member at a location offset below the top end, the retaining cavity having a suspension surface removably supported by the stationary support member when the stationary support member is received at the retaining cavity.
 5. The display hanger of claim 4, wherein the hanging member further comprises: an elongated L-shaped receiving channel formed through the display member and having an inlet opening at the top end removably receiving the stationary support member, the elongated L-shaped receiving channel extending from the inlet opening to the receiving cavity.
 6. The display hanger of claim 1, wherein the hanging member extends from the top end of the display member, the hanging member being substantially hooked-shaped.
 7. The display hanger of claim 1, wherein the opening at the second end of the sleeve fastener comprises a diameter that is larger than a largest diameter of the circumferential surface of the tubular handle.
 8. The display hanger of claim 1, wherein the radial wall of the sleeve fastener fastens to the circumferential surface of at least the portion of the tubular handle by an interference fit when at least the portion of the tubular handle is inserted into the hollowed region.
 9. The display hanger of claim 1, wherein the radial wall further comprises one or more integrally formed protrusions extending radially inward from the radial wall, the one or more protrusions comprising at least one of the following: a threaded ridge formed in a helix on the radial wall; one or more annular ridges on the radial wall; at least two ridges circumferentially spaced on the radial wall; or at least two ridges axially spaced on the radial wall.
 10. The display hanger of claim 9, wherein the radial wall of the sleeve fastener fastens to the circumferential surface of at least the portion of the tubular handle by an interference fit between the one or more protrusions and the circumferential surface when at least the portion of the tubular handle is inserted into the hollowed region.
 11. The display hanger of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the one or more protrusions compress from contact by the circumferential surface of at least the portion of the tubular handle when at least the portion of the tubular handle is inserted into the hollowed region.
 12. The display hanger of claim 9, wherein the one or more protrusions define an inner diameter of the hollowed region of the sleeve fastener, the inner diameter of the hallowed region being smaller than a largest diameter of the circumferential surface of the tubular handle.
 13. The display hanger of claim 1, wherein the sleeve fastener further comprises one or more tapered slots circumferentially spaced around the radial wall, the one or more tapered slots extending axially away from the second end toward the first end of the sleeve fastener.
 14. The display hanger of claim 1, wherein the display member further comprises a substantially planar tab extending from the bottom end attaching to the sleeve member at the first end.
 15. The display hanger of claim 1, further comprising one or more gusset members reinforcing the coupling between the first end of the sleeve fastener and the bottom end of the display member.
 16. The display hanger of claim 1, wherein the article of merchandise comprises at least one of a golf club, a racquet, a hockey stick, a lacrosse stick, or a bat.
 17. A method for releaseably fastening a tubular handle of a golf club to a display hanger, the method comprising: positioning an axial center of a hollowed sleeve fastener of the display hanger to align with an axial center of a distal end of the tubular handle, the hollowed sleeve fastener comprising a radial wall defining an outer diameter of a hollowed region; when the axial center of the hollowed sleeve fastener is aligned with the axial center of the distal end of the tubular handle, receiving, within the hollowed region, at least a portion of the tubular handle, wherein the radial wall fastens to the circumferential outer surface of at least the portion of tubular handle received within the hollowed region; and receiving, at a hanging member of the display hanger, a stationary support member, the stationary support member supporting the display hanger and the weight of the golf club when the hanging member receives the stationary support member and when the radial wall fastens to the circumferential surface of at least the portion of the tubular handle.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the hanging member is formed in a display member of the display hanger, the display member being substantially planar and exhibiting display indicia.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the hollowed sleeve fastener attaches to the display member; and wherein the radial wall of the sleeve fastener fastens to the circumferential surface of at least the portion of the tubular handle by an interference fit between one or more protrusions and the circumferential surface when at least the portion of the tubular handle is received within the hollowed region, the one or more protrusions extending radially inward from the radial wall and comprise at least one of the following: a threaded ridge formed in a helix on the radial wall; one or more annular ridges on the radial wall; at least two ridges circumferentially spaced on the radial wall; or at least two ridges axially spaced on the radial wall.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the one or more protrusions define an inner diameter of the hollowed region of the hollowed sleeve fastener, the inner diameter of the hallowed region being smaller than a largest diameter of the circumferential surface of the tubular handle. 